Game Theory and the Social Contract (Volume 1)

Author: [British] Ken Binmore; translated by Wang Xiaowei and Qian Yong; edited by Wei Sen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: In this book, Ken Binmore argues that game theory provides a systematic tool for exploring ethical issues. By reinterpreting classical social contract theory within the framework of game theory, he offers new insights into fundamental questions of social philosophy. He first clears the path for this ambitious endeavor by discussing basic issues, particularly the various problems that have arisen in recent years from introducing game theory into social philosophy. Ken Binmore elucidates how to form a comprehensive theory consistent with modern non-cooperative game theory from the classic works of Harsanyi and Rawls. In the process, he identifies logical flaws in other methods of analyzing social cooperation and coordination proposed by figures such as Rousseau, Kant, Gauthier, and Nozick, convincingly pointing out that much of the existing literature contains incorrect analyses of irrelevant games. The book makes the ideas of game theory accessible and comprehensible even to those with little prior knowledge. The content is presented using numerous simple examples, and the use of mathematics is minimized. Professor Ken Binmore is a professor of economics at the London School of Economics. His previous works include Economics as a Game, The Economics of Bargaining, Essays on the Foundations of Game Theory, Fun and Games, and a graduate-level textbook on game theory.